CHENNAI: Politicians should not give legitimacy to encroachers because this would only embolden them to take over open spaces everywhere, Local Administration Minister M.K. Stalin has said.

"Leaders set examples that the cadre follow. If a politician chooses to support an offender merely because he or she belongs to a particular party, it is unfortunate," he told The Hindu here on Wednesday.

Violation of norms

He was referring to the former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa inaugurating a marriage hall, which Deputy Mayor Karate R.Thiagarajan says was built in violation of many rules.

Mr. Stalin, who was Chennai Mayor earlier, said that in the case of the Velacherry marriage hall, even the permission to build such a structure was not obtained.

"In the case of a marriage hall one has to take permission from multiple bodies such as the police and the fire department. I am told that for the construction of this marriage hall, the owner did not take any permission," he said.

He added that the structure had encroached substantially into the open space.

"Follow CM's example"

Mr. Stalin said the acts of Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi had to be followed in cases like these. "You all remember the incidents during his last tenure.

He refused to grant legitimacy by inaugurating two huge ventures because they had encroached on government property," Mr. Stalin said.

Mr. Karunanidhi had refused to inaugurate a multi-speciality hospital in Adyar and an entertainment complex on East Coast Road when he was Chief Minister for this reason.

"In fact, the Hospital had even printed invitations.

The Chief Minister learnt of the encroachment issue later. The moment he heard about it, he verified it and then decided not to inaugurate the hospital," he said.

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